NIMBioS Working Group
Multiscale Modeling of the Life Cycle of Toxoplasma gondii
 |
| (Back row, L to R): Chunlei Su, Virginia Pasour, Adam Sullivan, Benjamin Rosenthal, Michael Gilchrist, Zhilan Feng, Jorge Velasco-Hernandez, Michel Langlais; (Front row, L to R): Matt Turner, Dashun Xu, Xiaopeng Zhao, Emmanuelle Gilot-Fromont, Gustavo Arrizabalaga, Dana Mordue, Yasuhiro Suzuki, Suzanne Lenhart |
Topic: Integrated Modeling and Analysis of within-host Infection and between-host Transmission for Toxoplasma gondii
Organizers:
Zhilan Feng (Department of Mathematics, Purdue University);
Dana Mordue (Department of Microbiology and Immunology, New York Medical College);
Chunlei Su (Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee);
Xiaopeng Zhao (Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee)
Meeting dates: May 16-18, 2011; March 12-14, 2012
Objectives: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is considered as one of the most successful parasites for its unusual ability to infect a wide range of hosts, including mammals and birds. Up to 20% of the human population in the US and 30% in the world are chronically infected. Toxoplasma infection can cause life-threatening encephalitis in immunocompromised persons such as AIDS patients, chemotherapy patients, and organ transplant recipients. Infection acquired during pregnancy may spread and cause severe problems to the fetus, including damage to the baby's eyes and nervous system. This working group is a follow-up of a previous investigative workshop at NIMBioS (Modeling Toxoplasma gondii, May 13-15, 2010). We aim to further investigate a few important problems identified at the earlier workshop. Specifically, we will:
- develop a mathematical framework to understand within-host infection dynamics;
- explore new mathematical models to investigate the characteristics of the complex transmission pathways of T. gondii; and
- integrate within-host and between-host models to understand the influences of various properties of the parasites on their genetic diversities and bio-geographic patterns.
Results of this working group may help to develop better prevention and treatment strategies for diseases caused by T. gondii.
Meeting Summaries for NIMBioS Working Group:
Multiscale Modeling of the Life Cycle of Toxoplasma gondii
| Meeting 1: May 16-18, 2011 | Agenda (PDF) | Participants | Evaluation report (PDF) |
Meeting 1 summary. Topics discussed at the meeting focused on two subjects: between-host transmission dynamics and within-host infection dynamics. Two subgroups were formed to explore these problems. The within-host dynamics subgroup proposed several conceptual models to describe interaction of parasites with the host’s immune system. Also, a few potential approaches were suggested for chronic stage of infection. The subgroup proposed ways to link models of the two stages. The between-host transmission subgroup discussed the features available in recently developed models on T. gondii transmission and identified important biological and epidemiological questions not yet addressed. Based on these discussions, the subgroup outlined the framework of the models need to developed before the next working group meeting.
| Meeting 2: Mar 12-14, 2012 | Agenda (PDF) | Participants |
NIMBioS Working Groups are chosen to focus on major scientific questions at the interface between biology and mathematics. NIMBioS is particularly interested in questions that integrate diverse fields, require synthesis at multiple scales, and/or make use of or require development of new mathematical/computational approaches. NIMBioS Working Groups are relatively small (10-12 participants), focus on a well-defined topic, and have well-defined goals and metrics of success. Working Groups will typically meet 2-4 times over a two-year period, with each meeting lasting 3-5 days; however, the number of participants, number of meetings, and duration of each meeting is flexible, depending on the needs and goals of the Group.
